Route21

If anyone has an interest in seeing photos of my wife, family, farm and out and about pics ....... they are most welcome to look.

Why would I worry?

The only person who might worry about a TV members Facebook page would possibly be their "ex", when they see how pleasant life out here can be.

:D:D

Regards

R21

...... not to sure how you will get on with filling the tank's in the roof but there should be no problem with the tank in the garden.

Re lasting our water stopped about a year ago due to a broken main's pipe took them a week to fix, our tank's lasted 5 day's they hold 2,500lt each.

Hi fred

Yes, we have 2x1k litre tanks in the loft, fed from the 1600 litre break tank in the garden, as there isn't enough umph in the mains to get to the loft.

I haven't seen any fresh water tankers around the area, but, if it came to a crunch, either the local "boss man" or my BiL/his boss man would have access to the info.

A mate's pond was recently running dry and so he hired an excavator that dug down 30ft and now he has plenty of pond water. We could do the same with our pond, but the water would have to go through some form of filter before we could use it as domestic water.

We make our own drinking water from the loft tank (blue pipe) water via a specialsed small multi-canistor + UV filter under the kitchen sink. The blue pipe water has loads of calcium.

Cheers!

R21

Not really true. Best to familiarise yourself with your FB settings.....

If you use a standard browser and you know what you're doing it should be reasonably safe.

Yes. My wife and I both use Facebook to share what's going on with all our friends and relatives, worldwide. It's so easy and convenient.

Although we both restrict distribution to "friends only", we try not to post anything that would create problems if distributed more widely. We would similarly not share or comment publically on a "friend's" objectionable post. It's also possible to "protect" a source by using an appropriately cropped screenshot and cut & paste.

You can set the system to ensure that you vet postings before they appear on your wall and, if a "friend" starts posting/sharing objectional matter - it's "adios amigo"!

I'm satisfied that I have sufficient control over what needs to be kept private vs what isn't a problem.

R21

On all these social networking sites face book, arsebook etc, one should use a false e-mail address .......

I don't believe you can sign up with a false email address, as, if I remember rightly, they send you an email, to which you have to reply before they allow you to sign up.

If you sign up with a valid email, but are actually subsequently able to change it to a false one, or simply cancel your previous email, and then forget your password, I believe you have just lost access to/control over your Facebook account?

R21

Our local municipal "blue pipe" water source ran dry about a week ago and the "boss man" apparently says we are all on our own until the government provides cash to solve the problem.

I believe the farmers are using the bulk of the warer to save their crops and that leaves very little for domestic consumers.

We're quite lucky, as we've 2 storage tanks in the loft and one in the garden, but don't know how long they'll last. We do, occasionally, get an occasional trickle coming into the garden tank.

Similarly, we have a pond that we're using to water our recently laid turf, but that's running low.

Not sure how everyone else will fare until the government solves the problem.

Anyone else in a similar situation?

Regards

R21

PS: The huge local, recently excavated, meandering, storm channels are bone dry, cracking up and caving in.

Just found, on the Honda website, nearest Honda Power Products dealer is close by in Nong Pai. We recently bought a pond-water pump for the garden from the same place.

Many thanks

R21

Does anyone know where I can buy a Honda petrol lawnmower in the Phetchabun area? The sort of thing I'm looking for is in the advert below, but I have no idea of price or where they, incl. Honda, sell them.

We have about 1 rai of turf that we will probably start to need mowing sometime in the near future.

Many thanks

R21

PS: Ordered a petrol mower, as per one on display, from Thaiwatsado, Phetchabun (@ ~13k+ Baht). When we called in, a month later, they said they hadn't/couldn't order it (but didn't call us, despite us leaving our phone no. to contact us when it arrived)!

We've previously stayed at Kossit Hill and also had pleasant meals there. There has normally been a group and a DJ for entertainment, but I would regard them more as background music.

Don't normally go to Phetchabun for entertainment - we normally have to generate our own, incl. BBQ's and or dinner parties with an expanding bunch of falang mates and their (Thai) wives - all speak English. It helps that my wife's an excellent cook.

Tonight's too short notice, but would be happy to meet up at our place anytime - you could even call in on the way home from Phet! We're on the 21.

Best regards

R21

Went looking for this rest/bar 'behind the bus station' in Phitsanulok last night but no success. Can anyone please help and be a little more specific than ' behind the bus station' given that the bus station has four sides.

There's a ton of them around Phisanulok bus station. Not surprised you didn't spot which one was being mentioned. See Google map below:

Went looking for this rest/bar 'behind the bus station' in Phitsanulok last night but no success.

Don't know about the rest/bar, but there is this place nearby Pichit Bus Station with an unfortunate name!

Sounds great - however any issues with stains, including after exposure of treated areas to sunlight? Any interaction with materials like soft plastics, wood, etc.? Does it leave a sticky residue?

The hardwood was coated in a lacquer (like "shellac") and so it doesn't affect the wood. No plastic involved. Cushion covers are washable. Some slightly greasy, rather than sticky, residue on the wood, but it rained overnight and washed most of it away. A quick wipe over all surfaces, including the floor, with a damp cloth in the morning (primarily to dry up the overnight rain) and it was as good as new by breakfast.

Hi,

I like too, to know places in Phetchabun, where can play pool and snooker. I mean places where is more than one table. Some club or hall. It's nice if you guys can put here information. I know only one place. It's near Phetsabun city gate. Between Thanon Nikom Bamrung and Samakkhichai Rd 21 is hotel and under the hotel is place where is some pool- and snookertables.

I mentioned this thread to a mate of mine last night. He says there's a place with plenty of pool/snooker tables in Phetchabun. It's not signposted and difficult to spot by car.

Best way, apparently, for 1st timers is:

Go North on 21, pass Kossit Hill hotel and the bus station, turn left at the traffic lights and stop by a wat on the left side. Walk further along that road and you will see it on the right hand side of the road. It apparently has many good quality tables on 2 floors, 1 floor for pool, the other for snooker.

Let me know if you can't spot it and I'll see if I can get my mate to pinpoint it on my Google maps.

Hope this helps

R21

Looks like we have 2 identical threads?

R21

Problem cleared.

I have lived in Phitsanulok for the best part of 15 months and I miss the opportunity to meet and talk. I am aware that a few English speakers get together at a lunch time every third Wednesday of the month and I have yet to have the opportunity to join with them, always assuming that they have no objection to that.

However I would like to be able to meet one evening per week with the view of holding a quiz nite or something like a debating society or even a book club. I am not interested in increasing the profits of the various beer companies but would welcome meeting other like-minded people for a social evening.

So are there sufficient English speakers living in the Phitsanulok area who would be interested?

Looks like we have 2 identical threads?

R21

I've just received the attached note from a Facebook family member who implies that, despite you restricting your posts to FRIENDS ONLY", if they "like" or "comment" on your post, it is immediately broadcast to all THEIR FRIENDS (of whom you may have no knowledge/control!) and potentially the world.

Your info is then in the public domain, whether you like it or not.

They propose a solution to stop your posts being indirectly shared with "friends of friends" (and thence the rest of the world), based on using a mouse but, if you use a smart phone, you may not have the availabilty of a mouse.

Does anyone know how to stop "friends of friends" seeing and indirectly sharing your posts with the rest of the world in such cicumstances (or others) if you're using a device such as a smart without a mouse?

Regards

R21

If you spray listerine around the place where your sitting you will find they dont bother you... we use it a lot and have no bites anymore

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Many thanks for the tip about Listerine.

We had my wife's birthday BBQ evening in the new Sala in our garden yesterday. With 5 of our farang friends and their partners round, was worried about mozzie problems so sprayed the floor, bench seats and table with Listerine, as you suggested.

Not bothered at all by any mozzies. It worked a treat. Many thanks for your great advice!

Cheers!

R21

Hi maturebrit

Thanks for the tip about Listerine - will pick up a large bottle on my next trip to Tesco.

We had my wife's birthday BBQ evening in the new Sala in our garden yesterday. With 5 of our farang friends and their partners round, was worried about mozzie problems so sprayed the floor, bench seats and table with Listerine, as you suggested.

Not bothered at all by any mozzies. It worked a treat. Many thanks for your great advice!

Cheers!

R21

There's an interesting paragraph on Wiki about rugby vs Zambuk and how long it's been around.

Zam-buk (obsolete)Zam-buk, or zambuk, was a skin-dressing sold in chemists and used by ambulance-men and first aiders at rugby league matches on injured players from the 1900s.

In Australia and New Zealand the term was soon being used to refer to the ambulance-men and first aiders themselves. 

The term fell into disuse in the 1970s as ambulance-men and first aiders were replaced by club trainers and others.

R21

Minor point: That "steep hill" is on Route 21, not the "1". !

Saraburi has some good hospitals, Mittraparp is one. Plus a half decent cheap golf course managed by SCG, I've had reason to visit both.

Oops! You're right of course. You leave Saraburi on the "1", then fork right, to where they sell bunches of small coconuts on the "21" before takling the deep ruts left by the heavy trucks grinding up the hill. Then a "peep-peep" as you pass the mountain's shrine and you're in a different world.

Regards

R21

Police can check if you have relatives (wife/children) in Thailand and some will also have registered it with their embassy.

Each embassy works in its own way, but suspect they will inquire about relatives etc with the police and they will contact the family. Also the visa one is one will be important. Someone who dies on a tourist visa is more unlikely to have famly in Thailand, but might be traveling with someone else.

I suspect it depends, primarily, on whether the Thai relative is there at the time.

There are nany offshore expat workers in the middle east that have a 1-month on, 1-month off work schedule and a Thai partner. They would only need a "30 day tourist visa on arrival" each time to visit their partner in Thailand. They would most probably be travelling alone.

A hire car accident on the way up to Issan after an overnight flight is all it takes and the police/embassy have no immediate knowledge of the Thai partner. Even their colleagues/employers are unlikely to have contact details, other than perhaps the expat's email address/mobile number.

Regards

R21

Last year, I changed over to an extension based on marriage.

Phisanulok offered to enlist me on a pilot scheme deal where, for 1k up front, they gave me 4 x 90 day envelopes, stamped and addressed to them, in which I only needed to return my previous 90 day extension receipt and they would handle the rest. They also started my new 90 day period from the date of my visit, rather than waiting for the (earlier) expiry of my then current 90 day period.

My 1st subsequent 90 day receipt actually came through the mail unsolicited - and they even sent me a New Year card!

How's that for service!

I have nothing but praise for the friendly, proactive actions of Phisanulok's current staff.

Long may it continue.

R21

When you die your next of kin decide what to do with your body. In the case of a foreigner, the embassy is always notified who in turn notifies the family of the deceased.

Just a thought ....

If it's the police/hospital that notifies the embassy, how does they know who your current wife/common law wife is?

The last contact with the embsssy may have been many years ago, notorising a "freedom to marry a Thai" letter i.e. (based on their records) not at that time officially married, without any record of an official Thai marriage having actually taken place or being still valid.

Do they just immediately start tracking down your potentially long lost relatives back home?

Regards

R21

Suggest you read the post Saraburi dust then have a rethink.

It may depend on whether the OP means the town or province of Saraburi. We regard Saraburi town as the northern limit of the Bangkok industrial zone. Once beyond there, you are basically into a less industrialised, more rural habitat.

We used to regularly drive thru' Saraburi on our way North to Phetchabun. If you go up the steep hill on Route 1 to the North of the town and thru' the high "mountain pass", you get out of the industrial zone.

Unlike Phetchabun, the town is actually on a railway line. It's had a Tesco hypermarket longer than we have. It's much closer to Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Wang Noi and Korat than we are.

So, if the OP means to settle down north of Saraburi, among the fields of sunflowers and close to the reservoir/dam area - the source of ram's head water chestnuts (water calthropes) etc and go into the town for Tesco's and the market, like we do with Phetchabun, then it may be a different story.

Is there anyone out there living in Saraburi province who can helpthe OP further on the positive side?

Regards

R21

Hi!

Does anyone out there know where l can buy citric acid crystals in Petchabun?

The water at our new place is hard. It's overloaded the ion-exchange unit and furred up the kettle.

Many thanks in advance

R21

It doesn't have to be crystals. Powder works just as well. It'the sort of item you might pick up on a cake making shelf, alongside baking powder, but haven't seen it in Tesco, Big C or Makro. Don't need much.

Acetic acid (vinegar) would, theoretically do the same, but it has byproducts and a strong residual smell, unlike citric acid (the bitter taste in citrous fruits such as lemons/limes).

Hope someone out there can help source some.

R21

I'm looking to buy new aircon this week and I want to insulate the ceiling at the same time, the ceiling is a hung ceiling so I'm wondering which of the following insulators to use, which one of these should I buy? If any?

Thanks in advance!

MD

We've been in our new house since May last year.

We have suspended ceilings, no insulation, no roof vents, no A/C's (but electrics in place if needed later), but we do have quite a number of 16" adjustable height fans (500 baht from Makro) and 2 x 1000L water tanks in the loft.

Was planning on vents, but they never arrived.

We'd spent most of the 9 month construction phase in a "shack" during the heat of the day, with a single fan to keep cool. No problem for us and that principle kinda spilled over into the house.

The electric company wanting 180k baht for a new transformer to serve the projected future needs of the area if we had A/C's also helped tip the balance.

The water tanks in the loft act as a heat-sink, mopping up some of the heat from the loft and enabling us, most of the time, to use the shower unit without the heater being on.

Most of our living area external walls are shaded from direct sunlight for most of the day, by Thai-style eaves, a front and back porch or the garage.

It works for us, but may not for others due to different acclimatisation (we moved here after many years in middle eastern heat) and/or physical house design or orientation.

Remember that, say in UK, you are insulating to keep heat that rises in. In Thailand your A/C's are producing cold air that sinks. Here you need to minimise leakage of your cold air under doors and through windows. I don't mind if the air near our high ceilings is warmer than it is where I'm sitting. We have an open plan throughout the ground floor and have an extractor fan in the kitchen ceiling in addition to the regular cooker hood.

Hope this helps with another perspective on the problem.

Regards

R21